Lawyer Enters Trouble, Gets Fined Over Evans’ Case

Suspected kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans’ lawyer Olukoya Ogungbeje got a fine of N20,000 for professional misconduct.

Ogungbeje was slammed with the fine by Federal High Court, Lagos for missing out of court for hearing on Evans’ fundamental rights case without due permission.

Ogungbeje apologised for his absence and asked for adjournment.

But, Mr Emmanuel Eze, who represented Lagos State Commissioner of Police, opposed Ogungbeje’s application for adjournment.

He said the applicant’s lawyer did not inform the police that he would be absent, adding that any other lawyer from Ogungbeje’s office could have come to represent Evans.

According to him, it is an “affront” to the court for Ogungbeje not to send another lawyer to stand in for him.

“In view of this, we are of the view that the applicant’s counsel is most unserious with this application. We, therefore, ask for a punitive cost of N100,000 against the applicant and his counsel,” he said.

Awarding the N20,000 cost, Justice Abdulazeez Anka said:

“Counsel wrote a letter seeking for an adjournment without copying the prosecution. This, to me, is unprofessional. The court hereby warns counsel to desist from such type of practice.”

Evans’ lawyer is compelled to pay the fine before the next hearing on July 20.